National Police Air Service

Supporting police forces across England & Wales with air support. Our helicopters & aeroplanes operate from a national network of bases. Not monitored 24/7.

[Durham Constabulary @DurhamPolice]

🚁 You’ve heard about eyes in the sky, but what about ears in the sky?

Whilst helping officers with an incident in Darlington on Saturday, @NPAShq landed at Fishburn Airfield and met up with our good boy T/PD Chief.

[Aviation Week Business Aviation @AvWeekBizAv]

The UK’s National Police Air Service (@NPAShq) has been granted funding to buy additional helicopters, in addition to aircraft already on order from @Airbus.
https://t.co/T8g52JjDjA

[HeliHub.com @helihub]

UK police provide details on fleet renewal program

https://t.co/icRUQm4EM8

[Airbus Helicopters @AirbusHeli]

We have delivered the first two H135s to @NPAShq! 🚓🚁🇬🇧
These aircraft mark the start of a fleet modernisation programme to provide enhanced air support across England and Wales. The transition includes H135 familiarisation and specialist mission equipment integration.

[Metropolitan Police @metpoliceuk]

Well, that’s one way to start 2026!

Our officers were out at midnight on New Year’s Eve, pursuing a dangerous suspect.

Great work by our officers and @NPAShq to safely stop and arrest this individual.

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

NPAS leaders visited @AirbusHeli production line in Germany as work continues on our next‑gen fleet.

The 1st two training aircraft are due at @Airbus UK end of Feb, with familiarisation training planned for early 2026.

Read more: https://t.co/a6aapaoClI

#NPAS #AviationNews

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

Read the full statement: https://t.co/lMjmAiFScA

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

Following the Police Reform White Paper, we’ve shared our statement on what the proposals mean for police aviation. As a national capability, we welcome steps to strengthen coordination, modernise our service and enhance how we protect communities.

#PoliceReform #UKPolicing

[Luke B @LukeFromYorks]

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to visit @NPASNorthEast alongside @WYP_Cadets.

Many thanks to the crew at #NPASCarrGate for allowing the visit.

@NPAShq

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

🕯 Remembering G‑EYEI — 24 Jan 1990

Honouring the police officer who lost their life when helicopter G‑EYEI was lost during severe winter weather over Glasgow.

Gone but never forgotten. 🫡

#NeverForgotten #PoliceAviation #PoliceScotland #NPAS #Glasgow

@PoliceScotland

[NPAS South West & Wales Region @NPASSouthWest]

Managed to capture the #aurora #northernlights prior to assisting @DyfedPowys tonight.

^JS

[ESN Report @ES_News_]

🚨 WATCH 🚨 Suspect jumps and gets injured. Officer nearly follows until @NPASSouthEast @NPAShq spot the danger in the dark. Solid teamwork leads to a clean arrest.

[ESN Report @ES_News_]

NPAS Crew Plays Pivotal Role in Hampshire Constabulary Ram-Raid Arrests

The National Police Air Service (@NPAShq) provided crucial aerial support to Hampshire Constabulary (@HantsPolice) at the end of December 2025, leading to the arrest of five suspects following a series of ram-raid thefts in the Southampton area.

Responding to reports of multiple offences, the Redhill-based NPAS crew quickly located the suspect vehicle in motion. From above, they delivered real-time updates to ground units as the suspects began discarding stolen items, which were later recovered as evidence.

When the vehicle stopped, two suspects were detained immediately. The remaining three fled on foot, triggering an urgent search. Using in-flight recorder replays and descriptions of distinctive clothing, the NPAS crew directed officers to a nearby property where two suspects had entered, resulting in their arrest.

The final suspect was located thanks to aerial footage that narrowed the search area, enabling ground officers to detain him.

In total, all five suspects were arrested for multiple offences.

The officer in the case at Hampshire Constabulary praised the NPAS contribution, stating:

“The support from NPAS was brilliant. They provided vital updates and an overview of the incident which allowed us to locate all five suspects and arrest them.

“Without NPAS we would have never found the three that decamped from the vehicle. Reviewing the NPAS footage, it’s brilliant how they tracked all three, directing officers in to detain.

“A great result all round and we could not have done this without NPAS on scene so quickly and with the eye in the sky. A great team effort and joint working!”

This incident underscores the essential role of NPAS in complex investigations, combining advanced technology, expert crews, and seamless teamwork to achieve successful outcomes.

According to the NPAS Annual Report for 2024/25 (covering April 2024 to March 2025), NPAS aircraft were deployed over 20,000 times across England and Wales in a single year.

This high volume of taskings reflects the service's constant demand, with crews locating 1,376 missing and vulnerable people, assisting in the apprehension of 4,224 criminal suspects, and identifying 1,987 vehicles linked to crime during that period.

Almost 90% of attended incidents resulted in a positive outcome.

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year from all of us at NPAS! Thank you for your support in 2025 – here’s to 2026!

#NPAS #HappyNewYear #PoliceAviation

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

@Lautaro_Chile @Carabdechile 🫡

[College of Policing @CollegeofPolice]

🚁 Calling for air support?

Lisa Fleming from @NPAShq shares 5 things you need to know - what to ask, when to ask, and why timing matters.

Read the latest #GoingEquipped article: https://t.co/PHI0KMxlPG

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

Great work by @NPASSouthEast 🫡 #OpGalileo

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Watch: Police helicopter tracks hare coursing trio through Essex countryside https://t.co/jYfCeApZqe

[NPAS North West Region @NPASNorthWest]

NPAS Barton save Christmas! Over night our Barton crew have officially declared it’s Christmas after assisting Rudolph back home after he got lost on a little trip around the Formby / Hightown area. He’ll now have a good rest before helping Santa and his sleigh on the 24th. 🎄🎅🏻

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

🕯 Remembering the 2013 Clutha tragedy, when a police helicopter crashed into the Clutha bar in Glasgow.

Honouring those who lost their lives and all who were affected.

Gone but never forgotten. 🫡

#Clutha #NeverForgotten #Glasgow #NPAS

[National Police Air Service @NPAShq]

Don't miss '5️⃣things about... National Police Air Service' on Page 39...

[College of Policing @CollegeofPolice]

🗞️ The latest issue of #GoingEquipped is out now – our operation magazine written by policing, for policing.

Read all about what you can expect in issue 11 with our editor-in-chief, Deputy Chief Constable @ktbg1:
https://t.co/1mXTqEzV71